Quick-fire brace sees York City suffer 2-1 loss at Maidstone

Lenell John-Lewis’ early opening header put York ahead until Corne netted twice within two minutes late on, condemning York to their first loss of the Vanarama National League season.

In a tie played under sweltering heat on a 3G pitch, York did well for much of the encounter before being caught off guard by two swift, well-worked goals from United.

Having been on such a high following the convincing 2-0 opening round win over Woking, the result showed the challenges that City face on their return to the fifth tier.

Despite seeming in control of much of the contest, two moments of quality from the opposition combined with some under-par defending saw the Minstermen come away empty-handed.

They did so without two of the starters against Woking, it should be pointed out, with injured pair Michael Duckworth and Luke James missing and replaced by competitive debutant Ryan Fallowfield and first-time starter Alex Hurst.

Maidstone looked to open the scoring swiftly, earning themselves a corner within the opening 20 seconds of the match.

York defended it well and were able to deal with the danger, soon enough finding Hurst down the left-wing.

The former Port Vale man was unable to create a chance though and could only see the ball run out of play.

Only moments after the 10 minute mark, John-Lewis, City’s captain for the season, opened the scoring.

Maziar Kouhyar inherited the ball on the right-wing, doing brilliantly to beat Maidstone captain Gavin Hoyte.

The winger swung a cross into the box that, perfectly placed, found the head of John-Lewis, whose header beat Yusuf Mersin in the Maidstone goal.

Referee Danny Middleton deliberated for some time, but the ball was over the line and York had the lead.

Henry Woods tried to find an immediate reply for the Stones, but saw his shot well blocked by a cluster of York defenders.

Just before the 20th minute, Maidstone won a free-kick on the edge of the box. Regan Booty stood over it and whipped an effort towards goal.His strike fizzed just wide of Ethan Ross’ far post.

In spite of the heat, York continued to press where they could. John-Lewis forced Mersin into a poor clearance that Hurst intercepted, but the winger lost his footing before he could unleash a shot.

A surging run forward from Olly Dyson saw him take the ball to the edge of the box before finding Kouhyar, who saw his shot take a deflection and go behind for a corner.

From the resulting set piece, York retained possession after Mersin claimed the initial corner. They worked down the right-wing and found Hurst with a cross.

The attacker, just six yards out, saw the ball too late and could only head wide from a genuinely threatening position.

Roarie Deacon, one of the Stones’ star players on the afternoon, did some brilliant work on the left wing to create space for a cross that was deflected behind for a corner.

From the resulting set piece, Joseph Ellul’s header from only a few yards out was off target.

With just over five minutes to go, Deacon found Corne in the box after some brilliant footwork.

Corne was tripped in the box and Jack Barham stepped up. His shot, aiming for the bottom left corner, was well saved by Ross, ensuring that it was not going to cross the line regardless of whether it was on target.

In the opening stages of the second half, Henry Woods went down in the box but was booked for simulation.

The Minstermen had a golden chance to double their lead through Kouhyar, who had acres of space after being found on the right wing by Dyson.

The Afghanistan international’s shot was not placed well enough though and was easily claimed by Mersin.

Much of the game was contested with long balls forward, no doubt a factor of the heat on the day.

James Alabi broke into the York box with the ball at his feet, but was unable to get a shot off.

From the resulting corner, Dyson did well to clear the danger. The ball soon found its way into the United box, but none of Kouhyar, Hurst and John-Lewis could find a shot.

With just under 25 minutes left to play, City somehow did not score a second goal.

John-Lewis placed a header well and it looked destined to nestle into the back of the net, but a sea of Maidstone players swarmed and it was blocked on the line.

Maidstone finally opened their account with just over 10 minutes left in the game. Deacon chipped the ball in from the left and found the head of Corne, whose effort beat Ross and crossed the line.

Just two minutes later, Corne doubled both his and his side’s tally. Once again, Deacon crossed the ball into the box and once again, Corne was the recipient, heading beyond Ross.

After that quick flurry of goals, City could never quite muster a chance that they looked set to score from.

Manny Duku, introduced late in the second half, could have broken into the box, but his first touch was too heavy and it ran through to Mersin.

Maidstone: Mersin, Hoyte (C), Ellul, Fowler, Alibi (Pattisson 62’), Corne, Barham, Booty, Deacon, Woods (Odusanya 69’), Cawley.

Unused subs: Hadler, Vincent, Fawole.

Goals: Corne (79', 81')

York City: Ross, Fallowfield, Crookes (Burgess 90’), Kouogun, Whittle, Pybus, Dyson (Kerr 86’), Hancox, Hurst (Duku 77’), John-Lewis (C), Kouhyar.

Unused subs: Whitley, Boden.

Goals: John-Lewis (11’)

York's star man: Maziar Kouhyar. The winger was a constant threat for York and provided the assist for his side’s only goal in the game. A solid attacking performance from City’s number 11.

Referee: Danny Middleton

Attendance: 2,245 (207 away)

Shots (on target): 11 (4) | 5 (2)

Corners: 9 | 3

Fouls committed: 8 | 4

Offsides: 1 | 1